Letter from the Pastor
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June 27, 2021
There was a time when all the sermons at Mass during the summer months were devoted to the education of the people in regards to the Mass and the Sacraments. As we are re-entering into the Church after the pandemic, it might be a good thing for us to reflect on the Mass and the Sacraments during the summer.
Last week the bishops of our country met, via zoom, and discussed the Eucharist, the Catholic faithful, and Catholic politicians. The bishops voted to begin discussion on how to properly teach and react to Catholic politicians, who are public persons, and further the anti-life, pro-abortion agenda of their political party, in contradiction to their Catholic faith.
Also discussed was something that’s been in the works since late 2019, before the pandemic. There is a great and growing concern about Catholics and their belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Only 69% of regular Mass attendees believe in the Real Presence of the Lord in the Eucharist, the rest see the Eucharist as only a symbol of Christ’s presence. Those who don’t go to Mass, the number drops to one-third of Catholics. What happened? Where did we go wrong?
The bishops of the United States discussed this past Friday a program of “Eucharistic Revival” that will aim to foster deeper devotion and knowledge about the Eucharist nationwide, beginning next summer.
The initiative will aim to launch a “three-year period of revival” nationwide. Beginning in July 2022, dioceses across the country will be encouraged to hold Eucharistic events and make the Eucharist a primary focus.
The Eucharist is the living and risen Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. A secondary effect brings the faithful together as one body because of WHO the Eucharist actually is. We are incorporated into Him, who gave His life so that we may live; Christ is the Head and we are many members of His Body.
While we need the nourishment of the Eucharist and the communion it brings, we can never forget that the Mass is uniting ourselves through interior and exterior prayer to the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary. The Mass is the offering, once again, of Christ to the Father for us. The Mass and the worship of God are never about me and what I receive, as much as, what I give and I offer to God.
The Sacrifice of the Mass is, first and foremost, the place of all grace where we offer, along with Christ, the perfect prayer and offering to the Father—the life of the Son. We are placed at that one time and place when Jesus hung on the cross and died for us.
It is only because of God’s love for us, that He offers His Son to us at the Eucharist, the bread of life, Who sustains and nourishes us on our journey of this life, which destiny is God Himself.
So, the Eucharist is Our Lord, and therefore, we need to receive Him in a worthy way, free from mortal or serious sin that has cut us off from the grace of God. Holy Communion is not a participation trophy, just because I’m at Mass, I can automatically receive. You may need to go to confession first; you also need to keep a one hour fast before receiving Communion.
To be continued…